02 Statement of purpose
Statement of purpose (information about our provision)
Treetops L.C.A. Playgroup
The Scout Hall, Heol-y-Delyn, Lisvane, CF14 OSR
Charity No: 1027527
Person in Charge: Miss L Kemp – telephone 07763917724
Registered Person: Lucy Kemp and Treetops Committee
Statement of Purpose
Treetops is the Lisvane community playgroup and has been in existence since 1967, providing quality care for girls and boys aged 2 to 5 years, with or without special needs.
Our aim is to provide safe, secure and stimulating environment in which all children have the opportunity to learn and develop through play and where there is equality of opportunity for all children and families.
As a community group we offer families opportunities to be directly involved in the activities of the group and in their own child’s progress.
Contact Details
We operate from the above address during term time and can be contacted on the above telephone number during session times.
Management of the Playgroup
We are a registered charity (registered number 1027527). Copies of our constitution are available on request and are on display on the noticeboard by the main door.
We are run by a committee of parent volunteers elected at our Annual General Meeting. This is held at the above address at the beginning of the autumn term every year. Officers of the committee (Chair, Deputy- Chair, Secretary and Treasurer) are also elected at this meeting. All parents are invited to attend the AGM and are encouraged to become involved with the playgroup either through joining the committee or by attending fundraising events. The Playleader is a co-opted member of the committee.
The committee is responsible for, amongst other things, the employment of staff, setting wages, setting fees (which are at a level to cover wages, rent, utility costs and other essential expenditure), dealing with matters relating to the building including rent and utilities and raising funds to pay for items not covered by fee income.
The Playleader is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the playgroup including responsibility for staff appraisals and supervision.
The committee and Playleader work together to develop, implement and review our policies and procedures.
Staffing and Volunteers
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Treetops currently employs 6 permanent staff. All staff are required to hold an appropriate childcare qualification or to work for a suitable qualification as soon as possible after employment. Of the 6 staff one holds a CCLD level 5 and management, four hold a level 3 qualification, one holds a level 2 and one is qualified to WPPA Foundation level. There are also 6 other members of staff who are on zero-hour contracts. They work in our lunch club and/or provide 1.1 support for children with special needs. Of these, four hold a level three qualification and they also work one or two sessions a week. One is working towards a level 3, one works two lunch clubs and has a BA (hons) in Early childhood studies. In addition we have two volunteers who help out and read with the children two times a week. All staff are DBS checked.
As a community group we are always keen to welcome visitors to our sessions. We regularly receive visits from local police officers, fire officers, doctors and dentists etc. and welcome visits from anyone with something of interest to share with the children. We are also happy to be joined by volunteers to help out at our sessions on an ad hoc basis.
Regulation and Inspections
Treetops is a member of the Wales Pre-school Providers Association, which has accredited us “Quality Assured” and is registered by the Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales (CSSIW). We are inspected regularly by the CSSIW. A copy of the inspection report may be found on our website.
Opening Hours
We operate during term-time only. Sessions are provided for up 19 children. We maintain a ratio of 1 adult to 4 children between the ages of 2 and 3 years and a ratio of 1:8 for children aged 3 to 5 years (but where possible we try to work with a 1.6 ratio for this age group.)
Children are offered either morning or afternoon sessions. Morning sessions run from 9am to 11:30 from Monday to Friday and afternoon sessions from 12:30 to 15:00 from Monday to Friday.
Friday sessions are run by the Deputy play leader as the play leader is not on site.
We also offer a walkover service and lunch club for children attending the nursery unit at Llysfaen Primary School. Children attending the lunch club attend a full session with us and are supervised eating a packed lunch provided by their parents.
Sessions
We offer children and families a Foundation Phase curriculum incorporating the seven areas of learning, the opportunity to have fun and form friendly relationships with other children and adults and the support of a personal key worker.
Facilities
Children have access to our main hall, quiet room, toilets and outside play area. They are not allowed access to the storage rooms and are only allowed access to the kitchen when they are with a member of staff for a focused cooking activity.
Activities and Routines
Activities vary from week to week depending on the context to be studied. However, during every session the children will have access to a role play area, fine motor table, art table, malleable table, sand or water play, a focused activity, construction corner and outside play.
2 02 Statement of purpose
The first half of each session is free-play although during this time all children will be encouraged to take part in a focused activity based on the term’s context. At the end of free play the children are encouraged to help tidy away the toys in “Tidy Up Time” and we then have circle time during which a member of staff discusses the day’s focused activity with the children and they then all take part in an activity such as musical instruments, action songs or rhymes.
After circle time the children are all encouraged to go to the toilet and they all wash their hands prior to snack time. During snack time the children are encouraged to sit at tables and talk to each other. After snack time all children have outside play and then go into the quiet room for a story before being collected by their parent or carer at the end of the session.
More detailed information about our activities and routines may be found in our Operational Plan which is available on our website or on request from the above address.
Language
Treetops is an English medium playgroup but wherever possible, Welsh language experiences are included in the daily routine. Welsh festivals, particularly Saint David’s day and Saint Dwynwen’s day are celebrated within the group.
Complaints
Any complaints about Treetops Playgroup should in the first instance be made to the Treetops playgroup committee. If this does not resolve the complaint you may contact “Care and Social Services Inspectorate for Wales at CSSIW, Mid & South Wales Region, Rhud y Car, Merthyr Tydfil, CF48 1UZ. Telephone 0300 7900126. Please note that CSSIW is not a complaints agency and cannot deal with complaints liked to individual circumstances. However, CSSIW would always listen to concerns raised and take appropriate action if it was deemed that a setting was failing to meet the requirements and conditions of registration.
Equal Opportunities
We believe that all children have the right to be raised without discrimination. We encourage positive attitudes and welcome, respect and value every child and every family. For further information please refer to our Special Needs and Equal Opportunities policies.
Admissions
Anyone interested in sending their child to Treetops should, in the first instance, contact the Playleader. For further information please refer to our Admissions Policy. All parents/guardians of children attending Treetops are issue with a contract outlining our terms and conditions.
Emergencies
Procedures are in place for dealing with emergencies. These are outlined in our policies which may be found on our website (see address below) or on request at the above address.
Further Information
Further information including copies of all our policies, this Statement of Purpose and our Operational Plan are readily available at our premises and can be found on our website treetopsplaygroup.co.uk
Reviewing the Statement of Practice
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This Statement of Practice will be reviewed annually (or more frequently if required). CSSIW will be informed of all changes and forwarded a copy of the amended document which will also be placed on our website.
This statement of purpose for (name of provision) was passed for use
On: July 2016
By: Lucy Kemp Position: Playgroup Leader
Date of planned review: July 2017
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